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Mindset

[Guest Post] Lessons learned from the 2008 Global Financial Crisis – and How They Apply Today

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Contributed by: Jane Garee, Sales Strategist

I knew the world economic free fall of 2008 would come back to haunt me but I am more grateful for it than I can say.

In 2008, I was in the thick of the financial meltdown.  I was enjoying a successful career as a mortgage broker, in south Florida, and between the warm sunny days, doing work that I felt mattered and the life I had created over the past eleven years, I felt as if the world was my oyster.

Then it happened.  The crash of ’08.

Or as I later described the situation; the market crashed and then I crashed with it.

I lost everything and moved from my initial state of shock to one of utter despair.  It was years before I was able to turn things around and it was the most challenging period of my life.

I made a promise to myself that when I regained my footing, I would remember the lessons that period of time had given me, and that I would use that one day to help others.

I don’t know what you’re experiencing in the midst of what’s going on in our world currently. For me, it’s a strange time because there is much I am personally thankful for, and there is still the reality of what’s happening.

Frankly, there are days when I feel guilty for thriving right now, when others are struggling to survive.  I keep looking for ways to do what I can to provide support and am grateful that my business allows me to have the time and resources to contribute, even if it is small on the grand scale of creating change.

I wish I could give you some sort of bumper sticker wisdom that would make everything okay.

You know, “This too will pass”, “Tough times make tough people”, “’ Your true colors are showing’ used to mean your disposition, now it’s about your hair” (okay, I made that up to insert some levity).

I know I can’t say anything to magically make things better. However, I do want to share with you three coping strategies I learned during the fallout of 2008.

The power is in the present

One of the most life-changing mind shifts for me, was when I realized that in this moment, I am okay.  If you focus on right now, all your basic needs are being met, there’s no threat of imminent danger, you have people who love and support you, and you are alive, with a mind and body that works.  Stress comes from dredging up the past or worrying about the future.  Neither is productive.  The past is gone, and you don’t really know what the future holds.  Take a deep breath and be grateful for right now.  Miracles are called miracles because they are unexpected.  Yours might be coming this very day.

Redefine your long-term plan

You may have realized that planning for what’s next is something you’ve taken for granted.  Since you don’t know what will be true in the future, redefining your long-term plan to something more manageable can be helpful.

When I was struggling in 2008, my Dad told me that I needed to redefine what long term planning was and that a good long-term plan due to current circumstances, might be getting through that day.  That helped me get through the pain and uncertainty by setting a goal that seemed infinitely easier to accomplish than a vague, “I will get through this.” On really bad days, I would often say to myself, “My long- term plan is to just get through the next fifteen minutes.”   Savoring small chunks of victory can help fuel you to keep going.

Disappointment is not discouragement

It can be soul-crushing when experiencing traumatic events and being in a situation that is out of your control.  The fear, pain and sadness are real, and it’s profound.

Although disappointments in life are inevitable, discouragement is a choice.

Discouragement is the false belief that everything is hopeless, and you are unable to do anything about your situation.  While hope may not be a plan, it is the thing that drives you to get up and keep going.

Discouragement loves nothing more than to tell you there is no hope, and that you are a victim, tossed around by the cruel winds of life.  Even when you can’t immediately change your circumstances, the hope that you can, is what will keep you going.  There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope.”  On my darkest days, I would ponder that.  If you’re truly a prisoner, there’s no escape. What would it be like to be unable to escape from hope?

My hope for you is that today, just for a moment, you take in that moment and not let any disappointment turn into discouragement.  Unsettling times like these can also lead to big mood swings so if you’re having a day where the future feels full of promise, reach out to someone who isn’t and see how you can be an encouragement.

I normally end my posts with, “To your selling success” but today, I want to close with,

To your success, and in all the ways that truly matter,

Jane

Jane Garee, known as “The Sales Strategist for the Non Sales Person” works with clients so they serve more people, make more money and realize their biggest dreams through their impact and influence, all while having FUN.

With over twenty years of sales production, sales training and sales team management experience, Jane is an award-winning salesperson, known for breaking revenue records and providing leadership and training to individuals and sales teams so they do the same. Prior to striking out on her own, she quickly worked her way up the ranks to Brand/Area Sales Manager with two different billion-dollar companies and was recruited to open the South Florida area for one of Inc 500’s Fastest Growing Companies.

Her dynamic and comprehensive sales background in one-on one sales conversations, copy writing, workshops and selling through speaking presentations bring exceptional knowledge and expertise to clients who desire a collaborative partner in creating higher conversions and building better buyer relationships throughout the entire sales process.

The 5 Phases We’re All Going Through Right Now

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It’s been amazing and awful to cycle through being scared then creative then challenged then connected… and back around to scared again.

This rapid-fire cycling has made me SO much more intentional about getting support and connection from my community (the Watch Us Thrive calls are the best example of this)!

Through these connections, I noticed a very consistent pattern: 5 distinct phases that business owners are going through. The time frame for each phase is different for everyone, and the phases don’t necessarily occur in this exact order.

Phase 1: Abject Terror
Oh @#$%&! This is no joke, it’s not China’s problem, it’s actually here. The economic impact is going be staggering. My business will never survive. No one is buying anything. Ever again.

You freak out, become paralyzed and may be eating potato chips dipped into a chocolate milkshake. You have difficulty breathing, sleeping, and keeping your mind off toilet paper. Nothing productive happens during this phase.

Phase 2: Panic in Motion
You realize you’ve got to get off the couch, but can’t seem to stop arguing with people on social media or refreshing websites looking at COVID-19 graphs. Refreshing, refreshing, refreshing… WAIT – I gotta get to work!

You waffle back and forth, “Can I position myself to benefit from this? Wait – oh ick! NO! I can’t capitalize on this. But I’m helping people, right? Will they think I’m being opportunistic?”

More chips. More milkshakes. An emotional roller coaster that takes you, minute by minute, from feeling mildly hopeful to dipping into the desperation of, “We’re screwed forever… what’s the point of doing anything?”

Phase 3: Channeling “The Dude”*
Hey man, it’s cool, I have no control over this. I’ve pretty much been ordered to stay home, and it seems like no one is doing business anyway, so… maybe I’ll do some gardening. Or watch Pride and Prejudice (the 6-hour BBC version) at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. And then go for a walk.

I’m going to treat this kind of like a vacation.

This is ok. I mean it sucks, but maybe this is the universe’s way of telling me to slow down, right?

* The Dude is a waaaayyy chill aging hippie from the movie The Big Lebowski.

Phase 4: Productivity Overkill
THIS! This is the opportunity in the crisis! Yes! It all has meaning now.

I am NOT going to waste this time. I’ve been wanting to start my podcast and write my book. I’m going to take this time and do both. (I mean it is kind of weird how it’s harder to get things done even though my schedule is so open.)

So… ok, I’m going to frame the family pictures, start making bread, develop an online mastermind, can my own veggies, plant a garden, organize weekly Zoom calls for my family and create an online course while losing 20 pounds.

Oh thank goodness! I’ve worked myself into the normal over-scheduled pace I’m used to.

Phase 5: Settling into Your New Reality
You realize, this is how it’s going to be for a while, so you focus on figuring out new routines. How to work out at home, find alone time even though the kids are around, get work done.

Born out of necessity, you start to get creative. Solving problems you’ve been stewing on for months or even years. Collaborating with others because you’re craving connection.

Fears still crop up, but more often than not you see where you can be serving and thriving and simply running your damn business through the chaos.

My FB Post that Surprised You

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Many people were shocked that I ever feel this way.

Doubtful. Self-judging. Worried.

Days like this happen to all of us when we stretch beyond our comfort zones. These days aren’t fatal. But they aren’t any fun either.

My “stretch” includes a rebrand and new website, and investing massively in my business. My workload is temporarily huge and overwhelming.

In my well-adjusted and sane moments, I’m confident I’m on the verge of the next big growth spurt.

However, most of the time it just feels scary. A LOT of work, big investments and an unprecedented slow start to the year. So no, not scary… terrifying.

To deal with this, I’m focusing on my physical health, getting support from my peeps and going back to lessons I’ve articulated in blogs I wrote in the past. My favorites are below, in case you could use a boost today.

  • Having a bad day? This article will normalize it for you
  • Feel like you’re going backwards? This article will give you perspective.
  • Critics piling on? This article will give you a way to reframe it.

Prague Blog, Part 2: The Big Aha

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Here’s the aha: I’ve been exhausting myself aiming for huge goals that I don’t care about.

During my month in Prague, I read the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fig* by Mark Manson. The timing of the book was excellent because I was pretty worn out by navigating in a foreign country and my defenses were down.

I got to the chapter of the book titled “You Are Not Special,” and read the following passage:

“The ticket to emotional health, like that to physical health, comes from eating your veggies – that is, accepting the bland and mundane truths of life: truths such as “Your actions actually don’t matter that much in the grand scheme  of things” and “The vast majority of your life will be boring and not noteworthy, and that’s ok.” This vegetable course will taste bad at first. Very bad. You will avoid accepting it.

But once ingested, your body will wake up feeling more potent and more alive. After all, the constant pressure to is something amazing, to be the next big thing will be lifted off your back. The stress and anxiety of always feeling inadequate and constantly needing to prove yourself will dissipate. And the knowledge and acceptance of your own mundane existence will actually free you to accomplish what you truly wish to accomplish, without judgment or lofty expectations.”

And it was like a weight had been lifted. Because somewhere along the line I had started taking on elements of other people’s visions of grand exceptionalism.

People like Gary Vaynerchuk, Brad Burchard, Tony Robbins. (people I don’t care about)

Visions of luxury world tours and millions and mansions. (visions I don’t care about)

Lifestyles of hustle and glittering peak performance and nonstop stratospheric achievement. (lifestyles I don’t care about)

I was exhausted by how high the bar was set… and it wasn’t even my bar!

I have a very specific vision for my business. A vision that aligns with my values. A vision of work that positively impacts the lives of others. Work that allows me to earn exactly the money to live in a nice home, eat good food, be with my family, travel, have savings and retirement.

I suppose it’s not terribly exciting, but when I sit with it – without comparison to others – I quite like it. I feel relaxed. So…

Why don’t I simply make a difference to the people I can reach easily? Why don’t I just keep doing what’s working? How about instead of doing more, I just do what I do now, but a little better and more focused? Why don’t I relax a little and enjoy the journey?

TRUST.

My vision is good enough.

My efforts are good enough.

My heart is good enough.

Trust my vision.

Trust my efforts.

Trust my heart.

Trust myself.

* My mother reads my blog and despises swearing, so I’ve prioritized her preference above using the real title the author gave the book.

NOTE: I found my extended trip overseas so impactful that I’m doing it again (this time in Ireland) and am taking a small group with me for a  Daring Moves Retreat.  Email me if you’d like the program details!

Better Results from 3 Hip-hop Inspired Questions

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I really, really want to be a great hip hop dancer.

I want to look cool. I want to be edgy and badass. I want to wow you and show you that this 48-year-old can really get DOWN with her bad self.

So I took a class or two and then learned a routine on YouTube. Then learned another routine on YouTube… and guess what?

I look completely dorky.

WHAT!? After all this work I don’t look like Matt Steffanina, Jabbawockeez or The Royal Family?

Don’t laugh, but I was seriously aggravated by this. I went into full-on whiny baby mode, “This is stupid. Why can’t I do this? I look like an idiot. But I’m trying! And I’m working so hard at this…”

Which is where I had to stop myself.

Really? I was working SO hard at this? Let’s review…

2018: take 3 break dancing classes, then practice one dance routine for 6 weeks.

Fast forward to mid-2019: remember – hey I want to be a hip-hop superstar… I’ll learn another routine. Spend 20 minutes on it and realize I look ridiculous.

I invested almost nothing into my burgeoning hip-hop career and expected to be a Fly Girl?

How. Embarrassing.

Now let me tell you, taking an honest look in the mirror about this wasn’t fun and it REALLY wasn’t pretty, but here’s the point of this story: to change your results, you’ve got to start by honestly evaluating the quantity and quality of your efforts.

Because what you imagine is happening, and what is actually happening can be two very different things.

In my mind, I imagined I was practicing hip-hop non-stop. After all, I watched HHI (Hip-Hop International) videos all the time. I’d even posted one of my breakdancing classes on Facebook, so… obviously I was working hard at it.

But the reality? Not so much.

To become exceptionally good at hip-hop – or anything in life – you’ve got to start by getting honest about the work that needs to be done.

Take a moment and take a look at any area of your business or your life where you’re not getting results and ask yourself:

1. How long has this been going on?
2. What is the work that needs to be done to change this?
3. Am I willing to do what it takes to get different results?

As for my hip-hop career? I got to question #3 and am undecided.

I’ll keep you posted.

Email me if you’d like better results from your client generation efforts. I’ll get you details about upcoming programs!

Do you excel at limiting yourself?

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Please welcome Adam Cravets as my guest blogger.

Are you a champion at limiting yourself? What’s your threshold?

Would you be able to look yourself in the mirror if you said “I can’t complete my day because I can’t find a pen to write my to-do list with?”

Here’s another excuse: “I can’t complete my day because I can’t find an empty piece of paper around the house to write my to-do list on?”

Or “I can’t go to work because I can’t find my car keys?”

Maybe its “I can’t work because I have a headache and can’t find an aspirin?”

Even if “I can’t pay my rent because I can’t find a job?”

Or the classic “I can’t find a job because my internet connection is down today?”

What about “I can’t earn money because I’m too busy raising my kids?”

And finally “I can’t help a friend because I’m so busy with all this stuff?”

Which of the above excuses are crap? Which ones are real excuses?

I suggest that the only ones that are real are…NONE OF THEM.

There are people with 2 jobs who also volunteer at their favorite charity, hang out with friends, help someone in need and get to the gym every day.

There are people with newborn twins growing their business and spending quality time with friends and reading a novel.

There are people raised in abject poverty who run up tens of thousands of dollars in loans to put themselves through college then start businesses or get jobs that make them rich and able to pay off their loans.

Time is not the issue. Money is not the issue.

The issue is the simple act of doing.

What are you willing to do? How often are you too busy to complete your to-do list but somehow spent 2 hours that day on Facebook? Is there a self help book sitting on your night stand unread because you are too busy watching a movie every night? Is there a money opportunity that requires investment but you are too scared to make the investment in yourself or your future?

Your subconscious is phenomenal at keeping you exactly where you are. It takes active effort to break out of your inertia (read “comfort zone”) and move forward towards all that you want.

My advice? Go fourth and DO!

P.S. I was inspired to write this post by Jen Sincero’s amazing book “You are a Badass at Making Money”.

You can get it too by clicking on the book image – I think you’ll love it and it may just change your mindset!

P.P.S. That link is an affiliate link which means there’s a small commission if you purchase the book, but the great news is that this won’t cost you a single cent more.

See what a Badass at Making Money you are already?

Don’t make an excuse…get the book!